Tag: Ed Harris

JACKNIFE (1989)

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Directed By: David Hugh Jones
Written By: Stephen Metcalfe (Based on his play STRANGE SNOW)
Cinematography: Brian West 
Editor: John Bloom

Cast: Robert DeNiro, Ed Harris, Kathy Baker, Charles S. Dutton, Josh Pais, Gabrielle Carteris, Elizabeth Franz, Louden Wainwright III, Jessalyn Gilsig

Two Vietnam vets search for the strength to face up to their horrific war experiences, but their friendship begins to splinter when one becomes romantically involved with the other’s sister.

I always remember the trailer and poster for this film above all. Seeing it play in theaters. It struck me how wild Robert DeNiro looked in his long hair and baseball cap. (Which was the poster image) Then all of a sudden dressed in a white tuxedo. It always mystified me how well he cleaned up. 

I only recently got around to finally watching the film. If I had seen it at the time it would be my first time seeing Ed Harris in a movie. He truly didn’t become known at least in my film atmosphere until the movie JUST CAUSE. The only other major role I might have seen him in would have been THE RIGHT STUFF a movie at the time I had certainly heard about, but had no interest as it didn’t register it my stratosphere.

The film seems like it wants to go to some deeper places but feels too slick and determined to make it a romantic love story of sorts. 

The film builds as much as we get to know the characters. Who are all damaged in their own way. 

If not for the cast wouldn’t be held in such high regard as they make it work more than it should 

Robert DeNiro comes across at first due to his looks as the more deranged or troubled character. Whereas Kathy Baker and Ed Harris look more normal and suburban. Though each character has their own problems. Ed Harris proves to be the most damaged amongst them and DeNiro the most well-adjusted though through therapy. 

The prom hallway scene is the pinnacle of the movie where all is let loose. 

Directed By David Hugh Jones, whose style comes across here with the depths of a television movie made into a theatrical feature film. It’s Simple and Thought lacks a finesse that makes everything come across as basic visually. He brings little to the table other than competence. However, it does make sense that this began as a play before becoming a feature.

It revolves around the 3 characters and is always more indoors. The film attempts to make it more open by adding more scenery and having scenes be more outdoors and in various locations. 

At a certain point it feels like DeNiro’s character steals the booty, so to speak. He romances his friend’s sister and ends up getting intimate with her. Then after a few friendly dates and finally getting through to her brother. Tries the old “this can’t work” and is ready to leave town. She has gotten all that he wanted. So he kind of works as an early version of the saintly character. Who is there to help and advise the hero while spouting wisdom. This is usually reserved for African Americans characters in movies in a more mystical way, but leaving them with very little to actually do or be as a character. Luckily here the film comes through for a happy ending. Which also allows DeNiro’s character to feel real and be more full-blooded.

Grade: B- 

BORDERLINE (1980)

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Directed By: Jerrold Freedman
Written By: Jerrold Freedman and Steve Kline 
Cinematography: Tak Fujimoto 
Editor: John F. Link II

Cast: Charles Bronson, Bruno Kirby, Ed Harris, Bert Ramsen, Wilford Brimley, Michael Lerner, James Victor, Kenneth McMillan, John Ashton, Karim Murcelo, Enrique Castillo 

Jeb Maynard is a patrolman guarding the U.S.-Mexican border, whose partner and buddy Scooter has just been murdered. Maynard knows that a smuggler of illegal aliens is responsible for Scooter’s death, but the feds insist that drug dealers committed the crime. If this villainous smuggler is going to be caught, Maynard is going to have to do the dirty work himself.

While this film doesn’t present anything new. At the time it was a social issue that was gaining more and more interest in popularity.

What is a Charles Bronson movie if you are looking or expecting an action epic you will be disappointed as well. The film does have scenes of action. There aren’t many more plays out as a crime drama.

The film is full of naughty character actors who have supporting and small roles. At the heart of the story is just trying to investigate the death of a border agent and an innocent, immigrant teenager and finding justice for them.

Throughout the tale, Charles Bronson is gentlemanly, and just generally a good guy. The film put a face to the villains in the organization they weren’t for, and the systematic way in which this business is lucrative for them.

We also see all the dangers and perils of the immigrants, trying to get into the country, what they lose, what they risk, and the general manner in which they are treated. During a section of the film, Charles Bronson’s character even goes undercover as an immigrant to try and catch and experience what most of them have to go through, and hopefully confront or come face-to-face with the perpetrators

The film offers something different than expected and entertains throughout her house and gives us the overview to see the perpetrators and we just wait to see how Charles Bronson & company will eventually hopefully bring them down.

This is the kind of film that is not really talked about when it comes to Charles Bronson but definitely should be. This film works on his decency and charisma throughout even when it lacks action and shows what he can be capable of when he doesn’t have a gun in his hand.

Grade: B-

THE LOST DAUGHTER (2021)

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Written & Directed By: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Based on the book By: Elena Ferrante 
Cinematography: Helene Louvart 
Editor: Alfonso Concalves 

Cast: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson, Ed Harris, Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Mescal, Dagmara Dominczyk 

A woman’s beach vacation takes a dark turn when she begins to confront the troubles of her past.

This is a film full Of good performances that by the end comes off a little more soap opera. As the characters are loved in but it feels more melodramatic than anything.

Dakota Johnson is sexy in a role that makes her never quite know what to do and confused. Kind of represents a mirror image of Olivia Coleman’s character at her age as a to-go mother who is overwhelmed.

Whereas in the scenes where Jessie Buckley plays her younger she seems to have a good life but is unfulfilled. Johnson’s situation seems more shady and dangerous. 

Throughout the film, we follow Coleman’s Character on vacation who feels full of mystery but has a good life,, and in telling stories we see flashbacks to fill us in on her and her family. So that while it builds it feels like it never quite goes anywhere. Except for some decisions that change things. Yet never ruin. 

Which then becomes the theme of this film. As nothing is quite permanent though it trays them like they are. 

By the end, it feels much ado about nothing. Throughout the film, it seems like it is building towards a dark secret and once we get there it is rather simple. That comes off melodramatic and the reactions seem a bit more over the top by that point. Where nothing seems to come of it.

As it is a midlife crisis movie for women. Showing what can happen if you make certain choices and how hard it might be to get back what you once had at all. 

It is a strong directorial debut for Maggie Gyllenhaal but beautifully filmed and fully lived in by the actors. While it is full of depth it never quite makes the connection. Maybe for some members of the Audience but not over here. 

Grade: C+

CYMBELINE (2014)

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cymbeline

Written & Directed By: Michael Almereyda
Based On The Play By: William Shakespeare
Cinematography By: Tim Orr
Editor: John Scott Cook & Barbara Tulliver 


Cast: Ed Harris, Milla Jovovich, Delroy Lindo, Ethan Hawke, Kevin Corrigan, Penn Badgely, Anton Yelchin, Dakota Johnson, Bill Pullman, John Leguizamo, James Ransone, Vondie Curtis-Hall, J.D. Williams, Spenser Treat Clark 


 A gritty story of a take-no-prisoners war between dirty cops and an outlaw biker gang. A drug kingpin is driven to desperate measures. You would need a big name cast to keep the audiences interest. Unless you have Shakespeare purist fans. As there is no real style and feels closed in and claustrophobic

So with this cast other than Ed Harris, Ethan Hawke. you have actors who are more on the mainstream leading roles. Challenging themselves and trying to show they are more than pretty faces by tackling Shakespeare in a more contemporary way and trying to make it more of a crime story.

Though this is one of few times Ed Harris really get to play a leading role. Even if he is barely in the film his presence is always felt. Where as Ethan Hawke is an accomplished stage actor and leading man. So it is not strange to see him In This film. In more of a smaller but pivotal role. Though both heavily featured on the poster. they seem to leave it a showcase for the other actors. As most of the tale revolves around the younger supporting characters. They still revolve more around Harris’s character.

Though it still comes off as slow and claustrophobic. Throughout the performances feel more forced and never quite natural. I understand the language might be out of place, but usually in successful adaptations the actors still find a way to make it convincingly theirs. The material never seems to come alive. Even with such a violent tangled tale.

It’s a shame as the film has a good recognizable cast and strong material that doesn’t feel like it ever comes full circle and maters by their presence. Small scale can be realistic in a kitchen sink drama way. Here that style adds very little, but is definitely a stylistic choice.

The film offers us glimpses of the underworld they operate in but never quite fully explained. Yet we see constant back deals behind closed doors. That every so often becomes a little confusing. Though by the third act it all becomes more clear.

The film feels like an experiment. While also trying to follow the popularity of Shakespeare and the adaptations of it. It tries to stick to it’s more indie roots by choosing a play that is less well known. So that maybe fewer audience members can find fault with it.

This is Director Michael Almereyda’s second attempt at a modern shapespeare tale. He directed an adaptation of Hamlet with Ethan Hawke that similarly had mixed but better results.

Strangely this is one of the few of Shakespeare’s tragedies that has more of a happy ending. Once you get through some deaths and a general massacre.

The film comes off more as a rich fairy tale. That seems inspired by the show SONS OF ANARCHY, with it’s dirty cops and criminal biker gang. Just as that show was inspired by the tale of HAMLET.

Grade: C

MAN ON A LEDGE (2012)

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Directed By: Asger Leth
Written By: Pablo F. Fenjves
Cinematography By: Paul Cameron
Editor: Kevin Stitt 


Cast: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Genesis Rodriguez, Kyra Sedgwick, Ed Burns, Anthony Mackie, Ed Harris, Titus Welliver, Willam Sadler, J. Smith-Cameron, Joe Lisi

An ex-cop turned con threatens to jump to his death from a Manhattan hotel rooftop. The nearest New York Police officer immediately responds to a screaming woman and calls dispatch. More Officers arrive with SWAT and tactical command along with fire-fighters. The police then dispatches a female police psychologist personally requested to talk him down from the ledge. However, things aren’t as straightforward and clear-cut as they appear to be.

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